Sean O'Driscoll looks to strike the right balance with City
New Bristol City head coach Sean O'Driscoll is promising to deploy players in their strongest positions when he takes charge of his first game against Leeds at Elland Road tomorrow.
O'Driscoll has had just four days in which to assess City's squad since succeeding Derek McInnes in the Ashton Gate hot-seat.
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Sean O'Driscoll
And his focus is on keeping things simple.
O'Driscoll said: "It is difficult after just four days to ascertain my best eleven. I have an eleven in my head, but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating when we play at Leeds.
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"I'm quite flexible in my approach, but my principles are fairly rigid.
"You don't put round pegs in square holes. Players want to play in a position they can do well in.
Right-sided defenders want to play on the right hand side. Playing left footers on the right creates an awful problem for people.
"I'm after a balance and an understanding of where players' strengths lie and where their weaknesses lie.
"I'm after a game-plan and a contingency plan and I want to make sure they know what they are doing at set plays, because that is the only criteria we know about.
"I want to put out a team that can express itself in a hostile atmosphere. If we can get 11 people who tick all those boxes, then we will give ourselves a good chance.
"I'm a big believer in sticking to principles. If we lose the ball, react in the right manner. That is something everybody should understand and be able to do.
"We have to defend compactly and use the ball well. If we need 25 passes to score a goal, then that is going to put pressure on people."
City may be in a parlous position at the foot of the table, six points adrift of safety, but O'Driscoll is doing hit utmost to create an environment in which his players can relax and express themselves.
After three days spent on the training ground with his new charges, he admitted: "There has been a little bit of uncertainty.
"When a new person comes in, nobody is quite sure what he wants or what his philosophy is. As you can imagine, everyone is walking on eggshells a bit.
"I'm trying to get the message across that we are all in this together as a collective. I've tried to include them in everything we have done.
"I've asked people's opinion, because I need to know where they are and how they feel. From my point of view, they have given me everything I have asked of them, as you would expect."
Meanwhile, centre-back Stephen McManus has returned to Middlesbrough at the end of his loan spell and O'Driscoll has no plans to bring him back to Ashton Gate at any time in the future.
But he wants longer to assess the out-of-contract pair of Mark Wilson and Matthew Bates and both will spend next week training with City's first team squad. Trialist Frank Feltscher has departed without being offered a deal.
Comments
by piledriver
Friday, January 18 2013, 8:17PM
“Playing people in their best position is welcome, although hardly rocket science.
It's the same players bar Edwards & McManus and the same board of Directors who reduced McInness's wage budget by 50% with the target to stay in the NPC only.
That's what I love about City Fans. £41m in debt, lost £14.4m last time out and now we want an Ex Prem League Manager as DOF!
At least three, if not four players, required with our "target" CB unavailable due to illness until late Feb when the season could be over.Once again, due diligence an issue?
How do we do that without selling our most prized asset and we can't do that for nother month?
The only solution I can see is the loan marker and I hope SD's contacts are better than Dels!Danny Wilson joined Hearts today and was never fit during his time here-So why was he here?
No loan players now but Mark Wilson & Bates are and that's disappointing
Hopefully, SD will be able to get our bunch of underachieving players, achieving.
We'll see, starting 3pm tomorrow
COYR.”
by royaljoe
Friday, January 18 2013, 6:52PM
“Spot on Vonner Re Nigel Adkins. I did think this as soon as he lost his job. He did wonders for Southampton. Their best manager since the war.
Thierons. Nice to see the respect you show our new manager.”
by LydneyBob
Friday, January 18 2013, 5:32PM
“How about Nigel Adkins as a central defender?”
by THEIRONS
Friday, January 18 2013, 5:25PM
“All the best to Mr O Driscoll and the players in the forthcoming games.
Jimbo 92nd -- What are you on about.”
by Vonner
Friday, January 18 2013, 3:58PM
“How about Nigel Adkins as Director of Football - dream team:-)”
by CiderheadNott
Friday, January 18 2013, 2:51PM
“I am hopeful that the change in manager will result in a new attitude from the incumbent players.
From what Sean says one can tacitly read that there has been a few heart to hearts this week, probably collectively as a squad, and with players individually too.
Talking to, and understanding the players will help Sean gauge the mood: -attitudes, gripes, grievances, ideas, preferences, and various views of the players, and this will help him pick a team and also help him select who plays where. Once done he can then assess to see where the match between what is said and what is done by the players lies.
This will be a key ingredient in deciding the way forward.
Sean was highly rated by the players at Nottingham Forest (as assistant manager and as manager), and also at his previous clubs, and although a quiet personality, I believe he is a deep thinker, knowledgeable about football and very capable of gaining the trust and commitment of other people, especially the players.
I just hope he didn't get rid of Cunningham and Anderson whilst he was at Forest, because I believe they are very good players and can be integral to the development of the team this season and in the future.
Just one more thing to say - provided the game is on,of course,:- COME ON YOU REDS - THIS IS THE START OF A NEW CHAPTER. LET'S ALL PLAY OUR PART TO MAKE THAT A SUCCESSFUL CHAPTER.
I want to hear a rousing 'Drink up thee Zider' at Ashton Gate before the season is over! :)
Bristol City Forever!”
by Vonner
Friday, January 18 2013, 2:44PM
“I just hope we get some of the 'new manager magic' with our results - even if they come by our players suddenly having to worry about getting shown the door. Even McClueless managed to get some points early doors.
Hopefully S.O.D is just applying common sense -like most of what the supporters say on this forum -when it comes to formations and tactics. At the end of the day we are only going to get out of this if Sean can man-motivate the players and get some belief back. We need to remember that feeling of banging 4 in v Cardiff and Palace - and remember way back when we used to concede hardly any (goals for was the problem then). The one beauty of this league is that anyone can beat anyone on any given day - we just have to make sure that day for us is a Saturday (or Tuesday night!)...”
by Jimbogas777
Friday, January 18 2013, 2:17PM
“Clean sheet the weekend if your games off good ol Brian”
by ashton_yate
Friday, January 18 2013, 1:45PM
“i have the feeling that it will not take long for sean od to sense those who are up for the battles that lie ahead .loving the uncomplicated way he is going about it .”
by redferryman1
Friday, January 18 2013, 10:45AM
“His attitude is so refreshing! I am warming to this man's approach! Actually getting players to play in their strongest position on the field of play!
(McInness clearly didn't finish his correspondence course in football coaching!)”